Downbursts! Macro and Micro 2020-05-25 16:44:56.000 - AJ Grimes, Weather Observer   To complement Ian’s latest presentation on devastating circular winds (tornados), this post will investigate a different type of damaging wind that can be present in a thunderstorm – downbursts, or straight-line winds. Downbursts are strong winds created by air falling rapidly to the ground and spreading outward from the point of contact. The winds can be damaging, with some microbursts reaching speeds of over 100 mph (about the speed of an EF1 tornado) and other downbursts reaching 150 mph or more. Though people often think about wind damage

When Hail Freezes Over 2020-05-18 13:14:01.000 - AJ Grimes, Weather Observer   To coincide with this week’s Virtual Classroom topic of thunderstorm types, I wanted to explore a type of precipitation that is commonly found alongside thunderstorms – hail. It’s a fascinating phenomenon in meteorology, and, if you think about it, it seems a little strange to see pieces of ice falling from the sky on a hot summer day. Let’s start by taking a look at the interesting formation process of hail and what kind of conditions are needed to begin the process. Hail is frozen precipitation that occurs

Something's Abuzz...Lightning Safety! 2020-05-11 14:41:44.000 - AJ Grimes, Weather Observer   For this week’s observer post, I wanted to continue the theme of this week’s virtual classroom topic – lightning and lightning safety. This topic warrants some extra attention because of how dangerous lightning is, and how crucial it is to understand what to do (and what not to do) when lightning is nearby. Weather observers will go outside into some pretty crazy conditions to do our hourly readings, but we will never go out if there is a thunderstorm near the summit due to the danger of lightning. Lightning

Like a Breath of Fresh Air - Only Thinner 2020-05-04 12:47:37.000 - AJ Grimes, Weather Observer   Here at the Observatory, we get a lot of questions regarding altitude and the lack of oxygen on the summit. I thought we could continue last week’s theme of high altitude, but instead of baking tips, this week we will investigate the effects on the body as one ascends through the atmosphere and the changes it automatically makes to adjust. Since the air is thinner at the height of Mount Washington (6,288 feet), less oxygen is available with each breath – about 20%

Baking Up a Storm on the Summit 2020-04-27 14:06:36.000 - AJ Grimes, Weather Observer   During our week-long shifts on the summit, cooking duties are usually handled by a pair of volunteers that join us for the week and provide us with amazing home-cooked meals. However, there are times of the year without volunteers, and then it’s up to the observers and interns to get brave in the kitchen and do the cooking ourselves. Fortunately, all of us enjoy cooking, and the crew on each shift works together to make a complete meal each night. My personal contribution is often

A Cirque-us Around Mount Washington 2020-04-20 13:42:40.000 - AJ Grimes, Weather Observer   Continuing on last week’s theme of extreme ice, let’s talk about glaciers! If you’ve ever gone skiing at Tuckerman Ravine or climbing at Huntington Ravine, you may have wondered what force created these spectacular formations. Or, perhaps you’ve stood at the crest of the Gulfside Trail and wondered at the Great Gulf. Would you believe that there used to be massive ice sheets there that carved these awe-inspiring sights?   View of Mount Washington from Wildcat Mountain, with Tuckerman Ravine on the left and Huntington Ravine on

Amazing Glaze! 2020-04-13 12:34:08.000 - AJ Grimes, Weather Observer   Early April.  Astronomical and meteorological Spring.  In the valleys below, birds are fluttering in the trees, crickets are chirping in the woods, and new life is beginning to emerge from the ground.  However, as weather observers and those familiar with Mount Washington know, winter still has the summit firmly in its frozen grip.  On April 3rd, the observers on the summit battled one of the most intense icing events of the current winter season, resulting in some stunning photos and helping to illustrate why the Observatory needs to be manned

The 86th Anniversary of the “Big Wind” 2020-04-10 15:57:06.000 - Eric Kelsey, MWO Lead Research Scientist   Eighty-six years ago, five men holed-up in a small wooden structure atop Mount Washington contemplated the question, “Will they believe it?” These five men, alongside three cats and a litter of five kittens less than a week old, witnessed the fastest wind speed ever recorded on Earth: 231 mph. The storm that came through on that historic day, 12 April 1934, surprised everyone with its incredible power. The skies just two days before were crystal clear and the winds were unusually light. Around

Warm and Dry Feet in Spring 2020-04-06 20:28:33.000 - Rebecca Scholand, Summit Operations Manager   Mud season on the summit of Mount Washington isn’t as muddy as you would think. Because the summit is primarily composed of rocks and gravel frozen in snow and ice, when spring begins, it takes on the characteristics of a giant puddle. Add a warmer day when precipitation is in liquid form and trapped from running off the result is a parking lot sized, deep puddle formation. There isn’t much that we can do with the standing water and so it creates an obstacle in

A Note About Our Afternoon Forecasts 2020-04-03 16:22:08.000 - MWO Staff, Mount Washington Observatory   At this time, Mount Washington Observatory has decided to suspend our afternoon Higher Summit’s Forecast in both written and recorded forms. The decision has been made in an effort to discourage backcountry travel and support the closures of the backcountry areas. Our morning forecasts will still be provided, as this weather information is important to the general public’s use close to home, educational purposes, and decision making for valley entities. We look forward to resuming normal operations in the future and will keep you up